Letters to the editor: Misguided decision on e-bikes; supervisors and climate change
E-bike issue just a group of kids
Re: The Star’s Sept. 3 editorial, “When bicycles, pedestrians don’t mix”:
There was definitely a dangerous situation down on Main Street for quite a while this past spring and summer. But, contrary to what we’ve been led to believe, this is not a result of bicycles — e-bikes — skateboards in the car-free zones. Many adults and children respectfully rode these conveyances without threatening life and limb of any pedestrians.
The problem was a select group of children, middle-school age, who has decided to terrorize various neighborhoods with their e-bikes. They cut in front of cars on city streets, do wheelies in intersections, and, on Main Street Moves, drive straight at pedestrians, including those with babies in strollers, just to scare them. They think it’s hilarious. As a result, every single person has been banned from any wheeled recreational device on Main Street. Adults who respected others, children who respected others. Because kids were misbehaving. When did it become taboo to tell children they are doing the wrong thing, and instead we punish everybody — so we don’t hurt their feelings?
This legislation, and the sentiment, are misguided and are absolutely the wrong answer to this problem. The answer is accountability, licensing, age limits possibly. But not a blanket rule. Yes, my husband and I ride e-bikes. No, we have never terrorized anyone. We are in our 60s and 70s and just enjoy a leisurely ride on Main Street where we’re not likely to be flattened by traffic.
This decision is wrong and needs to be revisited. Unless we’d be hurting someone’s feelings.
Jocelyn Hotzler, Ventura
Board must act on climate change
Climate change has our area in its crosshairs. Ventura County is the fastest-warming county in the country and despite last winter’s rainfall, we’re projected to experience significant drought with elevated temperatures and water shortages. The Thomas and Woolsey fires devastated the county and Ventura County has more than 40 miles of coastline threatened by sea level rise. These local climate change impacts cannot be responsibly denied.
The Board of Supervisors has the opportunity on Tuesday to take action to reduce Ventura County’s greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change.
At 11 a.m., the board will hear two proposals from the Ventura County Climate Emergency Council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from burning gas in buildings. The first is a proposed policy to electrify county-owned buildings by converting heating systems burning natural gas to heat pumps (where feasible), particularly at the time of equipment replacement. A number of California jurisdictions have adopted this policy, including the city of Ojai. The second proposal is the creation of a program to encourage the voluntary retrofit electrification of existing residential and non-residential buildings. This program would provide education about significant financial incentives available for buildings owners including the Inflation Reduction Act.
At 11:30 a.m., the board will consider whether to settle an oil company lawsuit trying to overturn regulations adopted by the board in 2020. Those 2020 regulations include a ban on flaring natural gas produced by new wells (except for emergencies). Flaring produces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and wastes an important energy resource without providing any benefit whatsoever. The board should reject oil company efforts to undo this important regulation.
The board has the opportunity to act on climate change, and should do so now.
Phil White, Ojai
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Misguided decision on e-bikes; supervisors and climate change
